Welder&#39;s ear guard



Dec. 5, 1950 v. e. OAKS WELDERS EAR GUARD Filed Oct. 13, 1947 Patented Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Vern George-Oaks, Superior; Wi s.

Application October 1s,1947,seriaiutjwsfssa This invention relates to improvements in ear guards such as are worn upon the head of one engaged in the art of welding wherein the artisans ears are subjected to danger from flying sparks, hot metal fragments, or the like. a

This danger is well known to be quite prevalent in instances where such workmen are engaged in overhead or elevated welding jobs without the use of fully equipped helmets. Even when such helmets are. used some danger still exists due 4 Claims. (01. 128-15131;

to the lack of sufficiently close fitting guard if'flt such a circumstance and unguarded moment that applicant experienced what has resulted in the total loss of hearing in one ear thus augmenting the instant desire torproduce a practical efiicient and dependable guard which may be individually shaped to suit varying circumstances to insure maximum safety.

One of the principal objects of the instant invention is to provide a simple ear protector which, while giving efiicient protection from flying sparks, objects and the like, will not interfere in any Way with the work of the wearer.

It is well known that with ear muffs such as are on the market today, sounds are usually distorted and also that the ability to distinguish the direction from which a sound is coming is practically nil. To overcome this deficiency without the loss of efficiency in protection is another object of the invention.

Another object is the incorporation of a pliable sheet of metal or other non-combustible material along at least the cheek engaging portion of the guards which may be readily shaped to conform to the wearers facial features to prevent flying objects from entering the ears between the guard and the wearers face.

A still further object is to provide such a device which is not bulky or cumbersome and which may be comfortably worn by one who is working without interfering with the work being done, it being well known that the average person will not wear any safety device which is awkward, uncomfortable or cumbersome.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent as the description of the invention proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application:

Fig. 1 is a perspective front view of a pair of guards embodying the invention that have experienced practical use.

Fig. 2 is a somewhat enlarged outer side elevational view of a slightly modified form of guard assembly, and

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 4-4 Fig. 2. i

In the drawing, the reference numerals I-l represent the two like, relatively thin flat strips of somewhat spring metal suitable as a support from the, head of the wearer of the guards,' the two strips being adjustably united to permit of ready fitting to different individuals, the union of the parts comprising a slot 2 in the upper end of each strip and a; bolt through said slots having a wing-nut 3 to-permit of adjustment thereof.

The ear guard or body portions 00 of :the device are made-preferably of brass or other suitable fine mesh pliablewire and are shaped so as to conform closely ,with the shape of an ear so asnot to be too bulkyv and cumbersome to the wearer. Each body portion is somewhat wedgeshape in front elevational View as Well as in transverse section due to the flanged portions 4 which overlap the edges of the ear to prevent flying sparks, metal, or other objects from entering the ear around the edges of the guard, and the side face 5 of each body portion is substan tially flat as shown.

The ear guards or body portions ll-0 are fixed to the lower ends of the head support strips l-| as at 5 by soldering or the like, the point of union being substantially centrally of the side surface 5 in order to positively bias the guards toward covering the entire ear, and the strips l--l are arched away from the upper portion of the guards 0-!) before being bent back to form the head engaging support or band, this also aids materially in providing the correct bias for the guards to keep them in place on the ears.

The flanged portions 4 of each guard have their outer edges closed or beaded as at I with preferably pliable solder in order not to have any rough edges which may be uncomfortable.

It is to be noted that the forward or leading edge 8 of the guards are not flanged and are straight. This leading or cheek engaging edge is thus formed to better prevent flying objects from entering the ear and is pliable or yieldable so that it may be readily formed to fit the contour of ones head adjacent the ear simply by pressure thereagainst when the device is initially put on. This pliable leading edge may be formed with a soldered bead as shown in Fig. l of the same type as that on the flanges 4, but is preferably formed of a piece of thin brass or other pliable metal 9 which is doubled over the screen body portion along the leading edge 8 thereof as shown in Fig. 2.

With the leading edge of each guard formed as shown with no flange and of a pliable material, flyin particles coming from forwardly thereof (which will almost always be the case as a workman will be looking toward the work he is doing) will glance ofi of the straight side surface 5 which is held at-approximately the same angle as ones ear and therefore the particle will glance away from the wearer. Any particles which land adjacent the leading edge of the guard will be prevented (from entering the ear due to the leading edge; being shaped to the wearers individual needs; and the supporting members being so arrangedas to bias the guards closely against thejpwearers'head, especially adjacent the leading edg'e thereof.

As pliable material isused'ffor the leading edge and the body portions or. guards of the device,

it will be seen that the same may be readily shaped to meet the individual requirements of difierent wearers without embodying bulky,

cumbersome,-or uncomfortablemeans to accomplish such adjustability. 7

It is deemed apparent that a'workmanequipped with the instant screen mesh ear guards will be able to distinguish sounds which occur in his vicinity and also to determine theirsdirection just as readily as if he swerenot wearing same, thereby adding to'his'safety in that he will be .able to hear warnings which may be shouted or other sounds of impending danger.

Havin thus described'my.invention, what I claim is:

1. As a new article of'manufacture a device for protecting ears .fromflying objects comprising a supporting 'member'adapted to be applied over the head of the wearer and'a pair of like a substantially flat side surface, a formative leading edge for said guard, flanged portions projecting inwardly from portions of said side surface to overlap corresponding portions of said ear, and means fiXed substantially centrally of said side portions 'for holding said guard in positionlonsaid ear.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 1 and said leading-edge comprising a piece of relatively thin sheet material doubled back upon itselfso as to contain a portion of said guard portion therebetween.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 2 and said leading edge comprising apiece of'relatively thin sheet materialdoubledback uponitself so as to contain a portion of said body portion therebetween.

'VERN GEORGE OAKS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are-of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1 ,066,511 Markoff July '8, 1913 1,988,011

'Margolith Jan. 15, 1935 

